Save on meat, produce by keeping an eye on prices

Coupons are rarely available for fresh meat and produce. These are healthy diet staples, so you have to approach saving a little differently.

Stocking up on fresh meat, seafood and produce when they are at a terrific price can make a huge impact on our grocery bills and our finances.

Most of these items can be purchased in bulk and frozen until we are ready to use them. When we use coupons to score a better price on other items we are purchasing, it frees more of our money to stock up on these items when they are at a great price.

We have many stores in our area that sell fresh meat and produce, so it is hard to determine who has the best price from week to week. To help you find the best deal on your favorite cut of meat, seafood or fruits and vegetables, you’ll find a regular list of all of the advertised prices in our area several times a week.

Because Walmart rarely advertises prices on these items, I contacted some of my favorite managers and received permission to compile a list of prices. I visited several Walmarts this past week to get prices on meat, seafood and fresh produce so they may be included in the comparison lists, as well.

I will be spot-checking the prices and updating the list as prices change.

You will find the comparison lists posted Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays on my blog at savannahnow.com/savvyshopper.

The lists will be posted no later than 8 p.m. If you have a subscription to the newspaper, be sure to activate your All Access account, because the page will have limited views for non-subscribers. Once the comparison list is completed and posted, I will post a direct link to Savannah Savvy Shopper on Facebook. Be sure to “like” the page and check it often for the updated lists.

The meat lists are broken down by type of meat (beef, pork, ham, turkey, sausage, seafood) and the cut or variety (roast, steak, ribs, pork chops, etc.). The lowest prices for each type and cut of meat are displayed in chronological order from the lowest price to the highest price.

You will be able to see at a glance where to find the best price on the cut of meat you would like to buy.

Buying produce

The produce list is also sorted by the type of fruit or vegetable and the specific variety. For example: apples (Fuji, Red Delicious, Gala, Granny Smith), oranges (navel, Cara, blood or Mandarin). The price per pound or ounce will be broken down, and the items are displayed in chronological order from lowest price to the highest.

• Walmart: There is not a regular sales flyer for groceries. Everyday prices will be included, and when there is a sales flyer, that info will also be included. I will visit the store frequently and watch for changes in price so I can update the lists.

I will be watching the drug store ads, Family Dollar, Dollar General, Fred’s and Target to include any fresh produce, meat or seafood items they have advertised, as well. I hope to receive permission from Target to include their non-advertised prices in the future.

Saving on meat

After you have reviewed the comparison lists, please keep in mind the following tips that may help you bring the price down even further:

• Dollars-off total purchase coupon: For example: $5 off $30. These can be used by the issuing store or at Publix or Bi-Lo if the coupon is from an accepted competitor.

• Prescription transfer credits: If you transfer a prescription to Kroger, you can have a $25 credit added to your Kroger card.

You would be filling the prescription anyway, so why not use the $25 to purchase meat and produce?

The Largo and Twelve Oaks Publix stores will accept the Walgreens coupon for the $25 gift card when you transfer a prescription.

However, it is a limit of one per family, per lifetime, and you will not receive a gift card if the item is on their free prescription list.

• Overage: Walmart and Publix both allow overage. If your coupon is worth more than an item costs, you can apply the balance toward the rest of your groceries.

You can always price-match at Walmart and then use the overage to help get your cost down.

• Watch for markdowns. When meat is close to the sell-by date, stores mark it down to try to sell it quickly. The sell-by date is a suggested date and the meat is good for a few days after that date.

Freezing the meat will prolong its life.

• Buy larger cuts of meat and have it cut up for free: Instead of buying stew meat, purchase a roast and ask them to cut it up at the meat counter. Most stores will do this for free, and it is much cheaper.

Recently, the Tybee IGA had whole New York strips on sale and they also had pre-cut ones on sale.

The whole New York strips were a $1 per pound cheaper than the pre-cut ones.

They even had in the ad that they would cut the whole New York strips any way you wanted for free.

• Rain checks: If the store is out of an item, be sure to ask for a rain check.

• Pay close attention to the dates of the sale: Sometimes the stores have special four-day sales within the weekly ad and you can only score that price during the specified dates.

Harveys has great meat specials on Wednesdays, so be sure to check out its specials each week and plan to shop on Wednesday to get that price.

Send your tips or questions to Savvy Shopper Michelle Rubrecht at savvyshopper@savannahnow.com or post them to Savannah Savvy Shopper on Facebook.